Improvement in steam-engine governors



1. JUDSUN W. A. COG-SWELL.

Steam-Engine Governnr.

HE GRAPHIC COAPHOTO -LITH.39 &4-! PARK PLAGE,

NITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

J UNIUS J UDSOlN AND WILLIAM A. (JOGSWELL, OF ROCHESTER, N YORK; SAIDOOGSWELL ASSIGNOR TO SAID J UDSON.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [60,774, dated March16, 1875; application filed July 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JUNIUs JUnsoN and WILLIAM A. COGSWELL, both of thecity of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Governors for Steam-Engines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the accom panyin g drawings, in which- Figure lis an elevation Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, a section of one of the springs.

The object of our improvement is to render the governor more sensitiveto variations of engine speed, caused by variations in boilerpressure,or by variations in the resistance against which the engine labors. Theobject is further to greatly lessen the increase of engine speed foundnecessary heretofore to lift the balls from their lowest to theirhighest position, while they operate the valve from its wide-open to itsclosed or nearly closed position.

()urinvention consists in combining with the governor one or moresprings, so attached as to retard the rising movement ofthe balls untilan increased velocity of the revolving movement of the balls is obtainedsufficient to hold the balls at their highest position if the springswere not used then, as the balls rise, to gradually release the actionof the springs, so that, under the accelerated revolving movementobtained, the balls pass through their vertical range of motion with amuch less number of revolutions, all as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, A represents the ordinary Judson governor, and B itspiston, attached to the rod 0, which connects with the balls D 1)through the medium of the arms F F. E E are cranks attached fast topivots a a, which are keyed fast to the arms F F, and therefore turnwith them. G G are the springs, of which two are preferably used on aside. One end of each spring is attached to the crank-pin b or b, andthe opposite end to a bearing, 0 or 0,

of the opposite ball. The springs thus cross each other, and when theballs are lowered, as shown in the drawings, the length of each springlies below the pivot of the ball to which that particular spring isattached. Thus the length of the spring G lies below the pivot a, andthe spring G below a.

The action is as follows: The springs lying below the pivots a a, asabove described, hold the balls down to the extent of their tension orpower. It will therefore require a higher revolvin g velocity ofthegovernor to start the risin g movement of the balls than in the ordinarygovernor, where no springs are used. WVhen the balls begin to rise underthe accelerated motion the springs rise with them, and as they approachin line with the pivots a a they gradually lose their tension and drawless and less downward upon the balls. If carried in full coincidencewith said pivots they exert no action at all upon the balls, the togglein that case being straight, and in line with the points of attachmentof the springs. This releasing of the tension allows the balls to risehigher in a single revolution under the accelerated n10- tion than theywould do at a slower speed; hence the range of vertical motion isaccomplished with a fewer number of revolutions, and the governor ismuch more sensitive in its action.

The object of the invention is to retard the rising movement of theballs until an increased velocity is attained sufficient to hold theballs at their highest position if the springs were not used, the'foroethat holds them down to their lowest position being graduallyneutralized or taken off by the rising action of the balls. Theslightest increase of engine speed will raise them through their wholerange and close the valve. The falling of the balls and the opening ofthe valve is accomplished by reversed action or by gradual increase ofthe tension of the springs as they fall in line below the pivots a a.

In addition to the toggle action above described for producingthe resultspecified, the cranks E E turn toward each other as the balls rise andrecede from each other as the balls fall, thereby correspondinglyshortening or lengthening the springs, and thereby increasing orlessening their tension.

The springs may be of any desired construction. In the drawings they areshown as G0ll1- posed of a spring-coil, f, two swivels, g i, on

which the coil rests, a threaded rod, h, which screws into one of theswivels to lengthen or shorten the spring, and a nut, 70, for tighteningthe parts in place. The ends of the springs have also two loops, bywhich the attachment is made to the parts with which it connects.

The adjustment in the length of the springs is necessary in order toadapt them to the different conditions of the fiy-Wheel or the machineryto be driven. In case of heavy flywheels, or quick-running machinerythat increases the momentum of the flywheel, the valve can be adjustedto throw over the whole opening by one per cent. of increase of enginespeed; but where the fly-wheel is much lighter in proportion the actionof the governor would be too sensitive, and would feel the unequalimpulses of the piston, which more fly would neutralize. In the lattercase the springs have to be let out, and the governor thereby made JUNIUS J UDSON. W. A. OOGSWELL.

Witnesses:

OHAUNOEY NASH, R. F. Oscoon.

